president obama wants to let the bush era tax cuts expire for the wealthiest americans. many republicans still oppose that idea. aides have been trying to work out a compromise. >> none of this is pretty. it's actually ridiculous. pretty dysfunctional politics. we've set this crazy trap for ourselves and we're about to inflict a wound on our economy that really doesn't need that. >> reporter: in addition, the fragile cease fire looms large in the middle east. some analysts say this could be an opening for mr. obama to engage more actively in a middle east peace process, something he failed to do during his first term. >> we need to explore what is possible, but we have to be quite realistic and go in with our eyes open. >> reporter: and then there's the attack against the u.s. consulate in benghazi. republican lawmakers have accused u.n. ambassador susan rice of providing false information after she appeared on the sunday shows days later saying the incident was spontaneous. this week, rice defended herself. >> when discussing the attacks against our facilities in bengha